The Speech and Debate Team of Pinecrest High School took top honors at the Tarheel East National Qualifying Tournament held March 26-27 in Chapel Hill. The Patriot team repeated in the champion sweepstakes spot for the third year in a row.

The small school sweepstakes went to the Homeschool Association of Raleigh and Cary (HARC). The fledgling forensics team from SandHoke Early College earned the Tarheel East Baby Cup as the newest National Forensic League affiliate program eligible to enter the district qualifier.

District Coach of the Year honors went to Marcia Long of SandHoke, recognizing her dedicated efforts to begin the program there last year. SandHoke Early College is a joint effort of the Hoke County Schools and Sandhills Community College, allowing "first generation" students the opportunity to take college classes while in high school.

Students who were named as national qualifiers at the tournament will represent North Carolina at the NFL National Championship in Kansas City, Mo., in June. Pinecrest qualifiers include Kyle Ocheltree and Hunter Ocheltree in Duo Interpretation, Jenny Questell in Humorous Interpretation, Ben Denton in International Extemporaneous Speaking, Auden Laurence in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking, Joey Rasmus, Congressional Debate, Josephine Yurcaba and Haden Quinlan, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and the two-man teams of Emily Gower and Kyle Newman and Michael Adams and Shayla Birath in Public Forum Debate.

Pinecrest students Meredith Potter and Caleb Frye were the 2008 National Champions in Public Forum Debate, representing the Tarheel East District. The win by Potter and Frye was the first championship won by a North Carolina entry since 1993 and the only North Carolina championship ever in Public Forum Debate.

For more information, contact Libby Carter at (910) 692-7262.